Hawaii kicker Kansei Matsuzawa showcasing skills at NFL Combine

One more step to making the NFL dream a reality.

Former University of Hawaiʻi consensus All-American kicker Kansei Matsuzawa is participating in the NFL Scouting Combine this week as part of the league’s International Player Pathway program, which provides elite global prospects an opportunity to earn a roster spot.

The reigning Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year is one of 13 athletes representing 10 nations in the IPP Class of 2026. He is the only participant from an Asian country, with the majority of the class hailing from Africa and Oceania.

Matsuzawa is seeking to become the first Japan-born player to make a 53-man active NFL roster.

Nicknamed “The Tokyo Toe,” Matsuzawa delivered one of the most accurate seasons in college football history in 2025. He matched the Mountain West single-season record for made field goals and broke the previous Hawaiʻi school mark of 20 set by Jason Elam.

Matsuzawa finished second nationally with a school-record 27 made field goals and ranked fifth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a 93.1% field goal percentage. He tied for sixth in FBS in scoring with 121 points and was the only kicker in the nation with at least 25 made field goals while maintaining better than 90% accuracy.

Hawaii K Kansei Matsuzawa celebrates with teammates on the field after drilling a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Overall, Matsuzawa made 67 of 69 combined kicks during the season, providing consistency and range that elevated Hawaiʻi’s special teams unit and boosted his national profile.

The IPP program, established in 2017, identifies and develops international prospects. Since its inception, 70 international players have signed with NFL teams through allocation, the draft or free agency. Twenty-two IPP athletes are currently on NFL rosters, and 11 have been elevated to active rosters since 2017.

Matsuzawa began his IPP training in January, completing 10 weeks at X3 Performance and Physical Therapy in Fort Myers, Florida, before showcasing his skills in front of NFL scouts.

Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Hawaii place kicker Kansei Matsuzawa (PK17) aka Tokyo Toe kicks the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Under IPP guidelines, players may sign as free agents or, if eligible, be selected in the NFL Draft, which begins April 23. Each NFL team is permitted one roster exemption for a qualifying international player through final roster cuts. After teams reduce to 53 players, qualifying international athletes remain eligible for a 17th practice squad spot reserved for international players.

For Matsuzawa, the combine represents another opportunity to turn a record-setting college career into a place in NFL history.

Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Hawaii place kicker Kansei Matsuzawa (PK17) aka Tokyo Toe during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images